Latch mechanism



March 27, 1928. 1,664,122

J. LEDWINKA LATCH MECHANI SM File y 18, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheetl IN VEN TOR.

W JbsE H LE0 NKA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J. LEDWINKA LATCH MECHANISM Filed May 18,

March 27, 1928.

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JQSEPHI Lnnwlnna, or rnrnannnrnm, rnn'nsvnvnnra, assrenon 'ro nnwn a. noun nan'urac'rnnme CQT/IPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, rnnnsrnvanra, a cone EORATIQN 0F PENEJSYLVANIA.

LATCH EEEtJEANISM.

Application filed may 18,

This invention relates to improvements in latch mechanism and has to do, more particularly, with latch mechanism of a type adapted for use on automobile doors. My present invention is an improvement upon the invention described and claimed in my copending application for latch mechanism, Serial No. 496,042, filed August 27th, 1921 and patented July 22, 192 Patent No. 1,502,475.

a One of the chief objects of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism in which friction between relatively moving parts 1s very largely reduced or eliminated, so as to require the application of only a very slight pressure or force to the door, in clos-- ing it, in order to retract the latch bolt; .A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism which is particularly sensitive, in that the latch bolt may be retracted automatically by the application ofa very slight pressure or force to the door, in closing it, and in which the latch bolt may be manually retracted either .by a handle of the usual t pc on the outside of the door .or by a pull andle situated onthe inside ot the door.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism comprising a swinging latch bolt which may be retracted by actuating a rotatable spindle, having a part to enga e the latch bolt directly.

Another 0 ject of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism comprising a swinging latch belt, a sliding follower orboltoperating member connected to the latch bolt, and means for retracting the latch bolt either by a member engaging the follower or by a part engaging the latch bolt directly.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism including a swinging latch bolt, a sliding follower or boltoperatlng member and means for retracting said latch boltby a handle located near one face of the door and swinging around a substantially vertical axis, and independently of the usual roll back operating member.

Another object of my'invention is to provide a latch mechanism including a swinging latch bolt, a sliding follower or boltoperating member, and improved means for guiding said follower.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 1922. Serial l lo. $811,841.

vide a latch mechanisnr of the type described including a swinging latch bolt, a

till

A structure constituting Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of alatch mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail, sectional view, taken through the bearing for the vertical spindle, on the line 4-4 of Fig.1, and

Fi 5 is a detail, sectional view, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In general, I accomplish the objects of my invention by'providing a swinging latch bolt which is pivotally mounted on a suitable support and is pressed by a spring into the projected position. in order to retract this latch bolt by a handle disposed at one face of the door and which may be operable from the inside of the automobile, ll provide a rotatable spindle journaled in a suitable bearing to which the handle is attached. This handle may be curved so as to-constitute not only an operating handle for the latch mechanism but also a pull handle for use in closing the-door. it provide a part on this spindle which engages the latch bolt, so that when the rotatable spindle is operated by the handle, the latch bolt is swung on its pivot to retracted position. The operating handle and spindle having connection till lllll ice to the latch bolt, as above referred to, may be embodied in a latch operating Structure having also means for retracting a swinging latch bolt as disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 496,042, in which the latch bolt is retracted by reciprocating a sliding 'follower or bolt-operating member, through a roll-back carried by a rotatable spindle extending transversely of the door and latch. Therefore, in my present invention, I provide two independent means for retracting the swinging latch bolt, one means acting through the follower, and the other means acting directl on the latch bolt independently of the follower. Another feature of my invention consists of an improved guiding means for the sliding follower, comprising a pair of spaced ears project ng from the latch bolt support, the follower being slidably guided between said ears. Another feature of my invention consists of a channel-shaped member mounted on the bridge over the sliding follower and the roll-back and constituting not only a bearing for the rotatable spindle carrying the roll-back, but also a spacer between the latch mechanism and the op osite panel of the door.

In the rawings, I have shown a latch mechanism for an automobile door constituting one embodiment of my invention, and, in

the illustrative embodiment shown, the base plate, 10, is provided with the laterally-extending flange, 11, having a lip, 13, extending from the free edge thereof parallel to the base plate, for convenience in mounting the latch in the door. A bolt opening, 12,

' is provided in the flange, 11, and a swinging latch bolt, 17, is pivotally mounted so as to swing through said opening.- In the structure shown, this latch bolt is mounted on a support, 14, secured to the base-plate, '10,

. near the'flange, 11, and provided with a pair of ears, 15, carrying a pivot-pin, 16, on which the latch bolt, 17, is pivotally mounted. The latch bolt, 17 if desired, may be provided with a recess opening through its rear face 7 so that it is substantially hollow and thereby corresporidingly reduced in weight. The end surface, 19, of the latch bolt, is curved to an arc concentric with the axis of the ivot, 16, and the front face of the latch olt, 18, lies parallel to a radial plane through said axis. A bolt-operating member or follower, 21, is provided for actuating the swinging latch bolt. This follower is mounted so as to slide relative to the base plate and it has an extended portion, 22, which is pivotally connected to the latch bolt, as by the pin, 23, carried by opposite side walls, 20, of the latch bolt. The body portion of the follower, 21, has an elongated central opening and, at the end opposite the extension, 22, a ide lug, 33, which works in a slot form in the base-plate, 10. The portion, 32, of the follower, 21, adjacent the'lug, 33, and constituting the end wall of the central opening in the follower, is thicker than the bod portion of said member, 21, and is provi ed with oppositely projecting portions, 32', forming shoulders to be engaged by the fingers, 26, of the'rollback. A spring, 34, mounted on a post carried by the base plate, engages the end, 32, of the member, 21, and normally exerts pres? sure to urge the said follower toward the flange, 11, so as to swing the latch bolt, 17, on its pivot, 16, into projected position, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. A bridge, 28, mounted on the base-plate, 10, extends over the bolt-operating member or follower, 21, and a roll-back, 25. i The roll back is provided with a hub, 26, which extends through the central opening in the follower, 21, and has extensions, 24 and 27, which are journaled in the base-plate, 10, and said bridge, 28, respectively. This rollback, 25, is provided, in the illustrative form shown, with laterally-extending fingers, 26', which work in the space between the baseplate, 10, andthe body portion of the follower, 21, and normally'engage the shoulders, 32, of the follower. A spring, 36, carriedby a post on the base-plate, 10, engages the roll-back, 25, and exerts its pressure to restore theroll-back to normal position after it has been displaced therefrom in retracting the latch bolt. The squared spindle, 30, to

which the operating handle,31, is attached, I

extends through the roll-back hub, 26.

The construction which 'I have just described is substantially the same as that disclosed in my copending a plication, Serial No. 496,042, now Patent 0. 1,502,475. In the illustrative embodiment shown of my present invention, the base-plate, 10, is provided with an extension or member, 37, having a groove, 38, formed therein which is continued intothe body of the base-plate,

,10, and terminates at the slit, 39, in said plate, as shown in Fig. 1. .A plate, 40, hav- 1ng-a corresponding groove, 41, is secured to the extension, 37 of the base-plate, by suitable means, such as the screws, 42, so that the grooves, 38 and 41, cooperate with each other to form .a bearing for a rotatable spindle, 43. By forming the bearing in the manner described,the axis of spindle, 43, is

ositioned substantially in theplane of the use-plate, 10. The spindle, 43, has a laterally-extending member which is directly connected to the latch bolt. This connec-. tion is effected, in this instance, by means of a. curved or hooked finger, 44, which engages partially around a pin, 45, rejecting rom the swinging latch bolt. handle, 49, is secured to the upper end of the spindle, 43, as by the nut, 50, and this handle, 49, is so formed that it not only provides a pull handle by means of which the door may be swung closed, but also provides lit * tains the a means for rotating the vertical spindle, 43, to retract the latch bolt. A spring, 46, is coiled around the spindle, 43, and fastcued to the plate, 40, at 47 and to the spindle, 43. at 48. so as to exert its tension to normally retain he spindle in its retracted position with the shoulder, 51, formed on the member, 44. abutting against the baseplate, 10, (see Fig. 2).

l have provided an improved mounting for the rotatable spindle, 30. consisting of a channel-shaped member, 29, which is secured to the bridge, 28, and carries a hearing for the said spindle, 30. This member, 29, also serves as a spacer between the latch mechanism and one of the door panels, when the latch is used in all-metal doors having two spaced panels between which the latch inserted. l have also provided improved guiding means for the follower. 21, consisting of a pair of spaced cars. 35, extendlaterally from the support, 14. on which the latch bolt is pivoted. The follower, 21,- is mounted to slide between these spaced cars, 35.

ln operation the latch mechanismgcooper-g ates with the usual keeper, not shown."

"When the door, carrying this latch mechanism, is swung to closed position, the edge of the keeper engages the front face, 18, of the swinging latch bolt, 17. The resistance offered to the closing movement of the door by the keeper tends to swing the latch bolt, 17. on its pivot, 16, and the greater portion of this force is resolved into a component which is applied in the direction of the length of the follower or bolt-operating member, 21,.to slide it along the base-plate, 10, against the resistance of the spring, 34. It will be noticed that the only forces tending to resist this movement are the pressure of the spring. 34, the friction between thev latch bolt and its pivot, which friction is very small, and the sliding friction between the bolt-operating member of follower, 21, and the bridge,, 28. the base-plate, 10 and the guiding lugs. 35, where said member is guided by such parts. This friction is small because the area of the parts in surface contact is greatly redir'ed. Furthermore, it will be observed that the pressure applied in closing the door. when the front face of the latch bolt engages the keeper. is translaled into a fare acting in the direction of the length of the follower and, hence, there is no tendency, as 'in the ordinary sliding bolt construction, to press the follower toward one of the parts on which it slides, with a resulting increase in the sliding friction. lVhcn the door, in closing, has moved sulhciently to permit the outer end ofthc latch bolt. 17. to pass the edge of the keeper, the spring. 34. acting on the follower, 21, swings the latch bolt forwardly and malnsame in projected position, with latch bolt.

the curved and surface, 19, of the latch bolt in engagement with the, keeper. When in this position, a force exerted on the door in the direction to 'open it is transmitted to the end of the latch bolt in a direction radial with respect to its pivot and the resulting strain is taken by the latch bolt pivot and is not imposed upon the follower, 21. Consequently, a-very light spring, 34, is all that is needed to maintain the latch bolt in lockiug position. When it is desired to retract the latch bolt, the spindle, 30, may be turned in either direction by the handle, 31. This wauses one or the other of the roll-back lingers, 26, to press against one or the other of the shoulders, 32, on the follower, 21, and slide said follower back against the pressureof s ring, 34, thereby retracting the latch bolt, 1 through the opening, 12, out of engaging relation with the keeper on the door jamb. The spring, 36, acting on the flatback of the roll-back restores the latter to normal position when the handle is released. and the spring. 34, presses the fol lower, 21. to its normal positiom'to again projectthe latch bolt through the opening,

'12, into the position shown in the drawings.

The swinging latch bolt can also be independently retracted by rotating the spindle, 43, the finger. 44, of which engages the pin, 45, on the latch bolt. When the spindle, 43, is rotated, it causes the latch bolt, 17, to swing on its pivot, 16, and, at the same time, the follower, 21, is caused to move away from the flange, 11, against the pressure of the sp'ring, 34, due to the connection between till the forward end of the follower and the The latch bolt is returned to projected position, when the bandle, 49, is released, by the spring, 34, acting on the follower, 21, while thespindle, 43, and handle,-49, are returned to normal position by the spring, 46. The spindles, 43

swinging latch bolt."

and 30. are then actuated independently of each other. the spindle, 30, acting on the swinging latch bolt, through the follower, 21, while the spindle, 43, acts directly on the When the latch bolt is retracted by rotating spindle, 30, and roll-back, '25, the pin, 45, mpves away from the fingerl 44,

the latter being retained in the positionshown in Fig. 2 by the spring, 46. Gonsequently. the operation of the latch by handle, 31, does not affect the handle, 49. In like manner, when the latch bolt is retracted bv handle, 49. and spindle, 43, the shoulders, on follower. 21. 1 move away from the roll-back, 25, and handle, 31, is not disturbed. This provides a latch mechanism whi h may be actuated from one side of the door by a rotatable handle of the type shown in my pending application, above referred to. and, also from the other side of the door by a pull handle. The mechanism by which 1 accomplish this is very simple, composed of few parts and may be manufactured very easily and at low cost. By reducing the friction, as described, and by providing a construction in which only a light spring is needed to project the bolt, I have attained the objects of my invention and produced a latch which is remarkably sensitive, that is to say, a very slight force applied to the door will be suflicient to latch it.

I am aware that the particular latch mechanism described in this application may be Varied considerably, without departing from the spirit of my invention. and, therefore, I claimmy invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and usefuland desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A- latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a swinging latch bolt pivotally mounted thereon, a spindle rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having a horizontally disposed hooked finger engaging about a vertical projeetion'on the latch bolt to swing the same on its pivot, said finger liav- I ing a shoulder engaging the base-plate to limit rotation of the spindle in one diree-t tion, andmeans for rotating the spindle.

2. A latch mechanism comprising a baseplate, a swinging latch bolt pivotally mounted thereon, a spindle rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having a curved lingerdeiining a hook engaging a projection on the latch bolt to swing it on its pivot, a

spring,

spring tending to rotate said spindle in one direction, said finger having a shoulder ongaging the base-plate to limit rotation of the spindle under the influence of said and an operating handle for said spindle.

3. A latch mechanism comprising a baseplate, a latch bolt mounted thereon, a boltoperating member connected to said latch bolt and having its body portion spaced from said base-plate but guided for sliding movement thereby,a roll-back positioned between said base-plate and the body portion of said bolt-operating member and engaging said member to actuate the same, means for operating said roll-back, a rotatable spindlehaving a hooked-shaped member engaginga projection on the latch bolt to retract the same, and means for rotating said spindle.

l. A latch mechanism comprising a baseplate, a latch bolt mounted on said baseplate, a bolt-operating member mounted on said base-plate to slide in a right line and CODIIBClOd to said latch bolt, a roll-back for actuating said bolt-operating member in one direction, means for operating said. rollback, a rotatable spindle suitably journaled on said base-plate and having a hookedshaped memberengaging a pin on the latch bolt to retract the same, and means for rotating said spindle.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

